First Blog Post? How Cliché.

And this is coming from a person who considers cliché's to be widely (and, at times, unfairly) criticized, but generally accepted when they appeal to you personally.

Maybe that's what this will be. A cliché introduction that says too much and too little.

But! Hopefully, that's not your first impression.

(Or maybe it's cliché to start a blog post and intro paragraph with the word used not only once, but twice? Unironically?)

If you can't tell, I have a little anxiety writing this up, because talking about myself is not my strong suit, not even in writing.

Let me start over.

Hi, I'm Taylor, the girl behind the screen.

I'm a copywriter and marketing strategist, novelist-in-progress, somewhat-amateur- photographer, and now, blogger! I guess the list will only keep growing if I can't stay latched onto one thing. (But what's the fun in that?)

I've been scribbling down words and telling stories since I could talk, and have always kept a divide in my brain on what type of writing needed to go where in the "work" and "life" boxes.

I started this blog for a few reasons. I wish I could tell you just one definitive reason I wanted to plaster my personal opinions online. Usually that just draws up a blank with a lot of background noise.

The most important reason to start this blog?

I'm writing a book. (Several, actually)

If you follow my Instagram, @taylordbarnes, then you probably already know this.

I started this blog to track my journey as a future author.

The story I've poured my entire caffeinated late nights and early mornings and all-day sessions into has been sitting with me for eight years.

In 2020, the story I'm so close to being ready to share is unrecognizable from what it was when it first came to be several years ago, when I first imagined the protagonist's face, name, and favorite fruit.

I plan to complete this manuscript and be happy with it to start down the self-publishing route, and develop this brainchild into the novel it's meant to be.

Here's to 2020 goals. (I don't drink, but still, cheers to that, right?)

For now, this manuscript is codenamed #ProjectKS.

What that means... you don't get to know (sorry) for quite a long time (not sorry).

What is it? What could it be? What's it about?

I won't be telling you in this post.

What I will say is that it's written ideally for the New Adult genre (18+, though flexible for Young Adult and Adult readers as well), it's the first installment of a dark-ish fantasy series, and there are a lot of oddball names.

Honestly. You probably would never bump into these characters on the street.

Or, you would, and you'll let me know exactly who they are in furious reviews that I'm excited to read someday.

In addition to sharing details on this book, sneak peeks into the story, characters, worldbuilding and development, my super-exciting and ultra-busy life (woohoo!), I'll be writing blog posts on these topics:

• Literary Criticism

• Book Reviews & Analyses (fantasy + fiction)

• Writing Tips, How-To Guides & Best Practices

• Fanfiction (most definitely and 100% unironically)

• Recommended Reads

I appreciate you being here, and I hope you stick around.

Sincerely,

Tay

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P.S.

Here are some ultra-basic "fun facts" you don't care about:

1. I switched my major three times in college before landing on English Literature and Cinema and Media Communications, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. (Yay!)

2. I'm a huge film buff and may post analyses and reviews on movies here too.

3. Hardcovers books are always my top choice. The short, stocky paperbacks that make me too concerned over bending the pages are just... horrifying.

4. My favorite genre of music is classical/orchestral, with electronic soon after that. Catch me listening to Thomas Bergersen, Mattia Cupelli and Illenium back-to-back.

5. I'm from the Pacific Northwest.

6. My favorite genre is fantasy, and always has been.